The Golf R was first launched in 2002 with the R32, and in 2015 we tested the Mark 7 Golf R. Move to some three years later, and what does the 2018 Golf R have to offer? Well that iconic style has been further refined from both the exterior and interior, so we put it through its paces this past weekend.Over the last couple of years Volkswagen have had minimal design changes with the Golf model, which is very similar to its sister brand Porsche 911. Depending on how you look at it, it might not be a drastic change, but when you’ve got such a great car you’re tempted to go with the “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mindset. Over the years its won countless awards, so with the Mark 7.5 it’s more a refresh than complete redesign.The new features most noticeable at first are the new Full LED headlights and new bumper, which appears wider from the gloss black side intakes that are extend from one side to the other. The Golf R comes with Spielberg 19” wheels that are a new design and look sporty and unique, along with optional carbon mirrors distinguishing it further from any other Golf. At the rear the exhaust tips sit closer to the edge of the bumper to offer you a bolder look. Optionally the Golf R can be equipped with an Akrapovic exhaust that we can only imagine would sound awesome. LED tail lights are now also standard and feature sequential indicators, giving you an excuse to change lanes more often while flaunting a newly designed rear spoiler. You can’t help but notice the similar styling cues from the Clubsport with a mature twist.The first thing you’ll notice sitting in the driver’s seat is Volkswagen’s new Digital Cockpit, which is a massive 12.3 inch display. This can be customized to display a giant map or a whole host of information, and looks stunning. The infotainment center has also been updated to feature a 9.2 inch screen and gesture controls, paired with a 8 speaker 400W Dynaudio sound system and dual zone climate control. You’ll also get additional features like adaptive chassis control, adaptive cruise control with front assist and autonomous emergency braking, as well as parking sensors, rear view camera, and dynamic cornering lights. The interior trim is two tone leather with ‘Nappa Carbon’ that was first seen on the Arteon, but feels a bit cheap and out of place here.While driving the Golf R you come to notice very quickly just how capable this vehicle is on the road - 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds is not slow by any stretch of the imagination. But where is shines is how easy it is to drive quickly. Torque is always on tap (380Nm), probably helped by that additional gear from the 7 Speed DSG gearbox, and the all-wheel drive system keeps everything under control while accelerating around corners. This allows you to maintain momentum and claw your way out of corners at blistering speeds. The steering feel is subtle, but that’s what you would expect from a refined German daily driver. Once you get enough seat time and experience in handling from the 4 motion system it’ll inspire even more confidence to the driver. The Golf R is ultimately that good, and for you to feel like you're pushing its limits and having fun, would probably mean that you're in triple digits on the speedometer. Fuel economy was around 8.6L/100km which is super impressive considering how much performance it has to offer.

If you’re a true driving enthusiast looking for a modern hot hatch with an all-wheel drive and some serious performance to back it up, then look no further. The Golf R pulls out above the rest in quality, performance and price. Starting from AED 159,000 with an all-options model sitting in close to AED 197,500.

2018 Volkswagen Golf R Review

Does the king of hot hatches get even better?

Sam McClusky

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The Golf R was first launched in 2002 with the R32, and in 2015 we tested the Mark 7 Golf R. Move to some three years later, and what does the 2018 Golf R have to offer? Well that iconic style has been further refined from both the exterior and interior, so we put it through its paces this past weekend.Over the last couple of years Volkswagen have had minimal design changes with the Golf model, which is very similar to its sister brand Porsche 911. Depending on how you look at it, it might not be a drastic change, but when you’ve got such a great car you’re tempted to go with the “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mindset. Over the years its won countless awards, so with the Mark 7.5 it’s more a refresh than complete redesign.The new features most noticeable at first are the new Full LED headlights and new bumper, which appears wider from the gloss black side intakes that are extend from one side to the other. The Golf R comes with Spielberg 19” wheels that are a new design and look sporty and unique, along with optional carbon mirrors distinguishing it further from any other Golf. At the rear the exhaust tips sit closer to the edge of the bumper to offer you a bolder look. Optionally the Golf R can be equipped with an Akrapovic exhaust that we can only imagine would sound awesome. LED tail lights are now also standard and feature sequential indicators, giving you an excuse to change lanes more often while flaunting a newly designed rear spoiler. You can’t help but notice the similar styling cues from the Clubsport with a mature twist.The first thing you’ll notice sitting in the driver’s seat is Volkswagen’s new Digital Cockpit, which is a massive 12.3 inch display. This can be customized to display a giant map or a whole host of information, and looks stunning. The infotainment center has also been updated to feature a 9.2 inch screen and gesture controls, paired with a 8 speaker 400W Dynaudio sound system and dual zone climate control. You’ll also get additional features like adaptive chassis control, adaptive cruise control with front assist and autonomous emergency braking, as well as parking sensors, rear view camera, and dynamic cornering lights. The interior trim is two tone leather with ‘Nappa Carbon’ that was first seen on the Arteon, but feels a bit cheap and out of place here.While driving the Golf R you come to notice very quickly just how capable this vehicle is on the road - 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds is not slow by any stretch of the imagination. But where is shines is how easy it is to drive quickly. Torque is always on tap (380Nm), probably helped by that additional gear from the 7 Speed DSG gearbox, and the all-wheel drive system keeps everything under control while accelerating around corners. This allows you to maintain momentum and claw your way out of corners at blistering speeds. The steering feel is subtle, but that’s what you would expect from a refined German daily driver. Once you get enough seat time and experience in handling from the 4 motion system it’ll inspire even more confidence to the driver. The Golf R is ultimately that good, and for you to feel like you're pushing its limits and having fun, would probably mean that you're in triple digits on the speedometer. Fuel economy was around 8.6L/100km which is super impressive considering how much performance it has to offer.

If you’re a true driving enthusiast looking for a modern hot hatch with an all-wheel drive and some serious performance to back it up, then look no further. The Golf R pulls out above the rest in quality, performance and price. Starting from AED 159,000 with an all-options model sitting in close to AED 197,500.